Exide Cleanup Sluggish, Lacks Money, California Auditor Says

California’s largest hazardous site cleanup effort in state history is behind schedule, lacks sufficient funding, and has failed to remove lead and other toxics from high-risk sites like day cares and schools, according to a report released Tuesday by the state’s auditor.

Thirty-one of the 50 most high-risk public sites haven’t been cleaned up and the state Department of Toxic Substances Control will likely miss a target of remediating 3,200 residential properties by its June 2021 goal, the audit said.

The lead battery recycling facility run by Exide Technologies closed in 2015. During operations, it released 7 million pounds of ...